Wow! What an amazing son, from an amazing family. You must be very proud!

Wow, Danny, your son wrote a really wonderful essay and delivered it eloquently. Thank you for sharing this with us. I am sure you must feel like a proud dad to listen to him deliver his speech.

Jack,

That was both well written and well presented! I enjoyed hearing from your perspective after hearing from your Dad all the time. ;-)

Patti,

You remain an inspiration. A long time ago, you emailed me an encouragement I needed and at the time, I didn't know your story. I realized later that your kindness came from a well of experience.

Danny,

I liked you first because of your name (dannyklancher.com), but over time I've gotten hooked on your style, your story, and of course, your art. You've made a great contribution to my struggle to move from one career to another. Thank you.

What a great guy! You are all very lucky to have a better understanding about what is important than most people in the world. I am grateful for the inspiration provided by your family.
Good thoughts,
Lisa

G'day Danny. Wow, what a fantastic speech from Jack. Seeing Patti's accidnet from his perspective is enlightening and it shows his incredible compassion and love for your family in this difficult situation. What a great kid you have there. The 'everyday matters' that Jack speaks of are what would be hardest to deal with and Patti has obviously handled it all with great dignity and a healthy sense of humour. Good on you all for managing so well and for showing others that it can be done! I have great respect and admiration for all of you. Well done Jack, you are a champion. your mate Georgia in Australia

What a great kid. And what a great family. It is an honor to listen to his essay, and having met all of you a few summers ago on the pier, I can vouch that you are a family who knows their way around fun!

oh my goodness. Have I mentioned lately that I LOVE YOU GUYS!! Jack Tea, you are the greatest kid ever, Danny, my dear mentor and PATTI--clearly YOU are the star, the heart, the soul, the joy, the spirit of your family. Yup, I LOVE YOU GUYS! Jack, as my husb would say "great words."

I ponder what words to leave. How can a glib comment in passing be of any meaning? But, I will nonetheless so you know someone hears.

Well said Jack - well done!

Well done, young man and my guess is that over all, your family may have a whole lot more fun than lots of others. It's all in the attitude and everything I've seen of your family over the years points to a consistently good attitude. You're a good example to the rest of us.

You have raised an amazing boy. His life experiences make him so open. It is wonderful to see. You are all a wonderful example of a life well lived. Thanks

What a beautiful, intelligent and humorous essay/ It brought tears to my eyes and made me laugh at the same time. What an amazing young man Jack Tea is!
Is that Patti who can be heard chuckling at some of Jack's anecdotes? I do hope she was not prevented from attending that event by flights of insurmountable stairs.

You and Patti must be very proud of Jack Tea. What an articulate and heartfelt reading. You have a wonderful family.

Congratulations Jack. Your talk was better than many "paid" keynote speakers I have heard. Listening to you was an inspiration and I'm sure will inspire other families who are facing similar challenges. Good on you, mate!

Bravo Jack! I was watching this with my girlfriend last night when both of us started clapping out loud. You guys are the best!

Jack, thank you for sharing this story from your heart. You remind us to really look at the people around us and take notice. Danny and Patti, it was like we were sitting at the table with you watching J with pride, hearing Patti's laughter and feeling Danny's when the camera started shaking. Your son sure is growing into a fine young man. All of you should be proud of that moment.

Andy

KUDOS to the entire Family

Well done Jack!

Very well done Patti and Danny!

Blessings and continued joy to your whole family-what lovely words by Jack Tea! They set one's heart a-singing! :)

Thank you for sharing with us Jack's essay.
The ending words: "We have much fun as any other family would�we just do it the other way" were much touching.

Great-grandpa Hermann would have been proud of his great grandson's literary talents.

Ilan Ganot

Thanks for sharing this! ♥

I would LOVE the hear Jack's speech but I am hearing impaired and with the background music, I can't hear his words and since it is filmed at a distance, reading his lips aren't possible either. Is there any possibility for his speech to be posted in written form so I could read it?! I'd be thrilled!

A son to be proud of!

Danny, it made me tear up--Jack's quite a kid. I was 14 or so when my mom ended up in a wheel chair--that's a whole lot different from being a baby, and Jack just astounds me with his courage and attitude. I always knew you and Patti amazed me, and now I can add your son to my list of people to admire...

I hope I can purchase a son as wonderful as that someday.

This extraordinary window into your lives and the son you have raised, wise and mature beyond his years, humbles me.
I am so glad to know you and to have seen the joy that you bring to those around you by your spirit and laughter.
Hope to see you again sometime.
FANTASTIC, Jack!!
Thank you for sharing it.

From time to time I drop by to see what's occurring in this distant corner of the Gregory family. Jack's speech was so eloquent and moving I had to write... You must both be very proud.

It's a profound lesson to us all, that adversity and challenges - no matter how enormous - whilst taking away freedoms we so easily take for granted, can also bring out a strength of character in all involved. Life IS what you make of it.

Love to you all. Px

Dear Danny,

I came to your books seeking creative info, but was amazed and surprised by your story. Kudos to your son for his presentation! My husband, a Type 1 diabetic, lost his 2nd leg in November 2002 and from then on was fully in a wheelchair, with some (albeit short) walking ability due to 2 amputations below the knee. He sported a sticker on the back of his chair which read, "I'm not in the mood to be stared at"! We quickly became acquainted with ramps, raised toilet seats and all the other stuff that encompasses 'access'. Howard died in August 2006; the last time he walked was to take our daughter down the isle at her wedding in May 2004. His spine was damaged by infection; he was also on dialysis. You have inspired and encouraged me, so that I could help my kids (now 27 and 23) through all of this. I am eternally grateful.

Sincerely,

Margaret Blank,
Calgary, AB
CANADA

Danny, I saved this until I had the time to watch and listen without distraction. I've admired and been moved by your family's story since I first read Everyday Matters years ago. Jack's essay and his performance are powerful and inspiring, in the true Gregory tradition. What a fine family you are.

I was a 15 year old girl(9 years ago) when me and my family started to have a new life like your family did.my daddy passed away and my mum is living with a wheelchair now because of the same disaster. I really understand what Jack feels and you maybe both of you in me. It'd made me smile when I read your writings about the accidents, you know, the feelings are all the same.Lets just try to be happy forever..:)by the way I bought 3 books from your store just a minute ago!

Hi! I just bought and read your book. I am sorry there are so many barriers to those unlike what we refer to as normal.
I was so glad that our money will soon be altered for the blind. There is an elderly man, He plays Banjo, on The Redline in Boston, MA. I always try and give him a 5 dollar bill. I always wait even if I miss the T. I hand it to him, tell him the denomination of the bill, and thank-you for the fine music.
I am glad to be apart of the EDM family. I have not uploaded any photos. Just give till next week.
The best part is that you face the challenges together. But, I know you were a family before the accident.
You are very lucky. Many families are not families- and they are know as normal, healthy people.
((( Circle of His Love)))
Sherrie Roberts

Holy Cow! What a well written and well presented essay! So moving and noble. Another case in point for the power of talented DNA transfer.

Wow, amazing story told by and amazing young man! I love all of you as you are an inspiration to many! There is a saying "Man measures success by how many servants you have. God measures success by how many people you serve" Thank you for sharing you personal story with us, you are all success stories.